Lettering device



Oct. 11, 1955 R. w. ANDERsoN 2,720,030

LETTERING DEVICE Fz'led Aug. 29, 1952 INVENTOR. ROBERT W ANDERSON F'g-V 8 A A ATTOR Y United States Patent fice ,720,030 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 LETTERING DEVICE Robert W. Anderson, Weehawken, N. J., assignor to Keuifel & Esser Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 29, 1952, Serial No. 307,102

ciaims. (C1. .ss- 23) This invention relates to an improvement in lettering devices. More particularly it relates to` a letter size adapter for a lettering scriber of the general types disclosed in U. S. Patent Numbers 2,0l1,195 and` 2,05.0,058 to A. W.` Keuifel. It is also' applicableto the scribers disclosed in my Patent No. 2,616,179 issued November 4, 1952, filed February 6, 1948.

Devices for modifying the size and shape of characters produced from a given template by the type of scriber referred to above have already been described. For eX- ample,tBurgess Patent No. 2,213,120 of August 27, 1940, discloses an attachment made up of a pivoting arm and a sliding arm carried by theipivoting arm and in turn. carrying the writing instrument.

However this device permits adjustment of the writing instrument over such a wide area that the location of` the proper position of the writing instrument in order to drawcharacters having a desired ratio of height to width with a minimum amount of distortion is a diflicult problem of trial and error.

Olson Patent No. 2,398,323 of April 9, 1946, discloses an attachment for the same general purpose but this permits adjustment only to one ratio of increased height to width and one ratio of decreased height to width: Furthermore this patent does not disclose the proper` construction of the attachment necessary to insure that the amount of distortion of the characters is held to a minimum. i

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a letter size adapter for varying the ratio of length to height of the characters produced with a scriber from a given template continuously from a minimum to a maximum ratio and with a minimum amount of distortion of the characters.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more fully understood from i the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. I is a view in plan showing the `adapter attached to a scriber for producing characters' havingtanincreased ratio of height to width. i p

Fig. II is a view in enlarged planshowing the letter size adapter per se. u '1 w.

Fig. III is` a view in side elevation showing the left side of the adapter as shown in Fig.` II.`

Fig. IV is a view in side elevation showingthe right side of the letter size adapter as `shown in`Fi`g. II.

Fig. V is a diagrammatic` view illustrating the proper construction of the device in order to produce the minimum distortion of the characters.

Referring to Fig. I, the scriber 2 rests on the template 4, the tail pin 6 of the scriber sliding inithe tail pin groove 8. The tracer pin 10 slides in one of the character grooves 12 provided in the template 4. The scriber 2 is provided with means to hold a writing instrument` in a hole at 14 when the letter` size adapter is not in use. The scriber 2 is also'provided with a conveniently shaped knob 16 and may have a tail pin weight 18 for holding the tail pin 6 in the tail pin groove 8. As is known in the art, the writing instrument arm is slotted near the hole 14 and a clamp screw 20 is provided to hold the writing instrument in the hole 14.

When the letter size adapter 22 is to be attached, clamp screw 20 is removed and the writing instrument is removed from the hole 14 in the writing instrument arm of the scriber and is placed in the hole 24 of the adapter 22. The adapter 22 is also slotted near the hole 24 and a screw 26 is provided to clamp the writing instrument in the hole 24. The letter size adapter consists of two principal parts, the plate 28 and the slide 30. A post 32 extends from the underside of the plate 28. This post 32 fits into the hole 14 of the scriber and the engagement of plate 28 with screw 36 keys the plate against rotation with respect to the scriber, as Will be described.

The height adjusting screw 36 passes through the writing instrument arm of the scriber and its lower end rests on the paper to hold the writing instrument at the proper height above the paper. by turning the screw up and down. The lock nut 34 is used to lock the screw 36 in adjusted position. When the letter size adapter 22 is attached, the plate 28 fits between the writing instrument arm and the lock nut 34 and is held securely in position by lock nut 34, the screw 36 passing through the cutout 38 in the plate 28, the screw 36 and nut 34 also serving their normal function of height adjustment.

The pin 40 extends from the underside of the plate 28 and fits in the main slot 42 of the slide 30. The slide 30 is held between the plate 28 and the fiat head of the screw 44. The screw 44 has a flattened portion fitting the main slot 42 and a threaded p'ortion extending into the knurled nut 46. After adjusting the position of the writing instrument by sliding the slide 30 with respect to the plate 28, the parts are clamped together by means of the knurled nut 46.

The hole 24 for the writing instrument is offset from the center line of the main slot 42 so that its center lies on a line parallel to the center line of the main slot 42 and passing through the center of the hole 14. Thus when adjusting the slide 30 with respect to the plate 28, the writing instrument moves along a line 48 passing through the center of the hole 14. This line 48 makes an angle a with the tail pin groove 8 of the template 4 when the tail pin 6 of the scriber is in the tail pin groove 8 and the tracer pin 10 is in a character groove 12 of the template 4 but as close to the tail pin groove 8 as possible while still remainng in the character groove 12. The angle a will be referred to again in the discussion of Fig. V.

As shown in Fig. lV, the edge of the plate 28 may be provided with an index mark 50 and the edge of the slide 30 may be provided with a Scale 52 for indicating the ratio of height to width of the Character obtained with the writing instrument in adjusted position.

For making characters of reduced height to width ratio,

the knurled nut 46 is removed from the screw 44, the slide is removed from the pin `40 and replaced on the pin 40 so it extends in the opposite direction; i. e. with the hole 24 to the right of the hole 14 but still on the line 48. It is then necessary to put the writing instrument in the hole 24 from the opposite side of the slide 30.

ln Fig. V, the line 8 represents the tail pin groove and the line 12 represents a Character groove. The point B on line 12 represents the point nearest to the tail pin groove 8 which may be reached by the tracing pin whilf` still remainng in the tracing pin groove 12. The point E' on line 12 represents the point furthest from the tail p pin groove 8 which may be reached by the tracing pin while still remainng in the tracing pin groove 12. A and C represent the positions of the tail pin and writing This height may be adjusted` instrument hole 14 re'spectively when the tracing pin is at B. A' and C' represent the positions of the tail pin and writing instrument hole 14y respectively when the tracing pin is at B'. If placed in the hole 14, the writing instrument wouldxdraw at line CC' when the; tracing pin: was moved along the'character grooveL 1323!. l

If the writing instrument is adjusted' along the line 48 to a position D to: the left of the position C,` line` of intcreased length' DD' will b'e drawn when the' tra'cing. pin follows the' character groove EBi'. the writing. instrument i's shifted along: the line 48% point E'tothe right of the point C a line` EE? of reduced length will' be drawn wheni the tracing pin. follows the character groove B'Bf.

When the' tracinfig pin. moves from point B= to: point B1' with. the tail. pin rema'ining: in the'v taii .pin groove' 81,` the scriber will turn. through ani angle 2a; Consetnlently,` the line 48' will turn through an: angle 2a to the line` 48'. For minimum'V distortion of the' characters. it is desirabl'e that aline parallel to-thetail pin groovel 8 passing through the point of intersection of the lines 48' and 437' should. bisect the angle 2a. Thisl condition will be obtained when the line 48 along which the writing instrument may be: adjusted makes an angle a (1/2 the maximum' angle' through which the scriber turns). when the tracing. pin is inV the tracing pin groove but' as near as possible to the tail. pin groove' 8;-

If the angle a is determined for the charactersA of the' maximum height which will be made with the adapter, the adapter will also produce all smaller characters with a negligible amount of distortion'.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A letter size adapter for a letteringi scriber of the type having atail pin, a tracing pin and means-for holding awriting instrument uesd in conjuction witha template having a tail pin groove and character grooves, said adapter comprising means. attaohable to= the scriber for holding a writing instrument in` slidable relation to' the' scriber along afixed-` line which makes a predetermined acute angle with the tail pin groove of thel template whenI the tail pin of the scriber isl in' the tail pin groove of the template and the tracing pin is in a character groove but is positioned as close to the tail pin groove as possible while still remaining in the character groove, said adapter being removable f-rom'. sai-:l scriber to per-mit conventional' use thereof and meansfor positively locating the' writing instrument holding means on said scriber in an angul'ar position in which said' fixed line willi make* said predetermined" angle with the'taill pin groove under said conditions, said predetermined acuteVV angle having itsapex beyond the tracing pin end of the scriber and being substantially equal toone half the angle through which the scriber turns When the' tra'eing pin moves from one extreme position of the largest character groove to the other extreme position of that groove with the tail pin remaining in the tail pin groove and means for clamping said' writing instrument in adjusted position along said line.

2. A letter size adapter for a lettering scriber of the type having a tail pin, a tracing pin and means for holdinga writing instrumentused in conjunction with a template having a tail pin groove and character grooves, said adapter comprising means attachable to the scriber for holding a writing instrument in slidable relation to the scriber along a fixed line passing through the means for holding al Writing instrument on said scriber and which makes a predetermined acute angle with the tail pin groove of the template when the tail pin of the scriber is in the tail pin groove of the template and the tracing pin is ina character groove but is positioned as close to the tail pin groove as possible while still' remaining in the character groove, said adapter beingremovable from said scriber to permit conventional use thereof and means for positively locating" the writing instrument holding means on said scriber in an an-gular position inwhich said fix'ed` line will If onv the other hand` make said predetermined angle with the tail pin groove under said conditions,` said predetermined acute angle having its apex beyond the tracing pin end of the scriber and being substantially equall to one half the angle through which the scriber turns When the tracing pin moves from one extreme position of the largest character groove to the other extreme position of that groove with the tail pin remaining in the tail pin groove and means for clamping said writing instrument in adjusted position along said line.

3. A letter size adapter for a lettering scriber of the type having a tail pin, a tracing pin and means for holding a writing instrument used in conjunction with a template having a tail pin groove` and character grooves, said adapter comprising a plate attachable to the scriber, a slide for holding a writing instrument' mounted in slidable relation to said plate and which may be clamped to said plate in adjusted position along a fixed line which makes a: predetermined acute: angle'` with, the tail pin groove of the template when the'tail pirrof the scriber, is in the: taili pin groove of the template: a'ndthe tracing pin` is' in aicharacter groove but` is positionedl as close to the tail pin groove as. possible while still remaining in the characterV groove, said adapter beingwremovable from' said scriber to permit conventional use thereofand means for positively locating the writingA instrumentholding means on Vsaid scriber inf anangular position in'rwhich saidfi-xed line will make said predetermined angle' with the tail pin groove' under said, conditions, said-` predetermined acute anglehaving. its apex. beyond: theA t-racing pin end of the scriber and beingstrbstantially eqnaltoonev half. the angle through whichtthe: scriber". turns when the tracing; pin moves from' one extreme position Vof the largest character groove to the other. extreme position of that groove with the taill pin remaining in: theitai'l pin' groove and means for clamping, said writing. instrument in adjusted position along said' li l'l;

4. A letter size adapter for a lettering scriber of the' type having. artailpin,` a tracing pin and means for holding a writing instrument used in conj'unction with a template having. a tail pin groove and character grooves,

said adapter comprising: a plate attachable to' the scriber land spaced means. holding: said plate on said scriber and preve'ntingv rotation with; respect thereto, a slide for holding a writing: instrument; mounted inl slidable relation to said plate along a fixed line and means for clamping said writing instrument relative to, said: plate' in adjusted position along said' line, said adapter beingv removable from said scriber to permit conventional .use thereof and said means holding: said platel on said scriber including means' for positively' locating. the writing instrument holding4 means on said scriber in an angular position in which said fixedlinewill make a predetermined angle with a tailzpin groove of a template under operating'conditions.

51. A lettering scriber for use in conjunction with a' template having a tail pin. groove and character grooves, said scriber having a" tail pin, a tracing pin and provided with means for holding' a Writing instrument in slidable relation to the scriber along a fixe'd line which makes a predetermined' acute angle with the tail pin groove of the template When the tail pin of the scriber is in the tail p'in groove o'f' the template and the tracing pin is` ina character groove 'but' is positioned as close to the tail pin groove as possible while still remaining in the character groove, said adapter being: removable from said scriber to permit` conventional use thereof and means for positively locating the writing instrument holding meanson said scriber in an ang'ular positionv in which said fixed line will make` said predetermined angle with thel tail pin' groove under said conditions, said` predetermined acute a'nglel having its apex beyond the. tracing pin endl ofV the scriber andE bei-ng substanti'ally equal to one halfthe angle through which the scriber turns' when the traoing pin movesfi'orrione extreme' positionl of'tlie largest character 5 groove to the other extreme position of that groove with the tail pin remaining in the tal pin groove and means for clamping said writing instrument in adjusted position along said line.

2,213,120 Burgess Aug. 27, 1940 6 Olson Apr. 9, 1946 Ross Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 1, 1932 

